Blame Archives - Thoroughbred U

May 1, 2020May 1, 2020

Derby Day at Oaklawn: The Arkansas Derby Double Feature

Crypto Cash races in his first start at age 2 at Ellis Park!

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Silver Prospector and Santana, Jr. win at Keeneland! — **Silver Prospector** and Santana, Jr. win at Keeneland!

When the 2019 Kentucky Derby resulted in a disqualification I thought that racing could not be more historically different and I felt a sense of disappointment. Never would I have imagined that different and disappointment would become what is often referred to as, “The New Normal.” Sometime, in the winter of 2019 a novel virus began sweeping the world and changed everything. Horse racing, an American tradition since the 1600s, slowed but did not, will not stop. Following an altered path on “The Road to the Kentucky Derby”, Grade 1 racing returns with such enthusiasm that it gathered 2 divisions! On the first Saturday in May, when the KY Derby traditionally takes place, we may instead enjoy two Arkansas Derby races, before the KY Derby resumes, scheduled for September 5th.

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May 17, 2018May 17, 2018

Should She Sweep the Susan? : Black-Eyed Susan Stakes

Opening Day at Pilmlico in Maryland preceding the 2018 Black-Eyed Susan Stakes.

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It is almost time for the middle jewel of the Filly Triple Crown! Now repeat this triple times, “Should She Sweep the Susan, Should She Sweep the Susan, Should She Sweep the Susan?” That is a hard question to ask and a harder one to answer. Who will sweep the Susan? I have a few ideas about the fillies entered in the Black-Eyed Susan Stakes.

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July 28, 2016

Covering Claiborne

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The Bluegrass State is getting a big dose of some much needed rain today. It was not the best weather for touring but I had a great visit to Claiborne Farm, nonetheless.

Claiborne Farm was established in Paris, KY in 1910 by Arthur B. Hancock. Over a century later it is still operated by the Hancock’s. Seth Walker Hancock, Jr. is the 4th generation Hancock horseman and manager. The farm sprawls across 3,000 acres. The pamphlet, provided at the tour, states Claiborne has had 22 Racing’s Hall of Fame horses, 63 Champions, 17 Horses of the Year, 22 Kentucky Derby winners, 19 Preakness Stakes winners, 22 Belmont Stakes winners, and 29 Breeders’ Cup winners. It also pointed out that half of all Triple Crown winning horses have been sired by their stallions.

Though it has 50 barns my hour long tour just featured a few of those. The first stallion I was introduced to was Orb. Orb is only 6 years old. He won the Kentucky Derby in 2013. He was sired by Malibu Moon and his dam is Lady Liberty. Orb’s 1st crop were foaled in 2015. Kevin, the tour guide, held Orb still so I could pet him. Kevin lives on the farm. His father and grandfather both worked there too. He has an abundance of detailed information on the stallions.

Flatter came out of his stall for a visit. He was foaled in 1999 and Claiborne was his breeder. His sire was A.P Indy and his dam was Praise by Mr. Prospector. Mr. Prospector is buried in 1 of the 3 horse cemeteries on the property. Flatter is the sire of multiple graded stakes winners including Upstart.

Lea is adorable and loves to savor his peppermints. He packs them in his gums and sips water to enjoy the flavor. Lea is a multiple graded stakes winner and is 7 years old. He is the progeny of First Samurai and Greenery. This is his first year at stud.

Blame by Arch and Liable is 10 years old. In 2010 Blame won the Breeders’ Cup Classic and an Eclipse Award for Champion Older Horse. His breeder was Claiborne. He has sired multiple graded stakes winners since 2011.

War Front is the most expensive stud on the farm. The son of Danzig and Starry Dreamer was born in 2002 and won multiple graded stakes. He retired to stud in 2007. Air Force Blue and Hit It A Bomb are some of his 2015 champion offspring. I gave a big hug and he stuck his tongue out! As Twitter’s famous Woodbine Racetrack barn cat, Gator Kitten (@Gatorkitten) would say, he is “to sassys”!

The tour concluded with a visit to one of the cemeteries. Secretariat is one of the most well know Thoroughbreds buried there. He was purchased in 1972 to stand at Claiborne Farm. His stall is currently empty. It is waiting for a pretty special stud to come along.

I thoroughly enjoyed my visit to Claiborne Farm. I hope you like the stallion pictures. Tours are available 7 days a week for most days of the year. To arrange your own visit go to Claiborne Farm . Thanks for reading my story. Check back soon for more Thoroughbred news and adventures.

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October 17, 2015October 18, 2015

Money on my Mind

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It is day 2 of a long Keeneland weekend for me, 10/17/15. I am having a great time as usual. I met up with Jean Cruguet, Triple Crown winning jockey, here this morning to talk about an upcoming project. Cruguet rode Seattle Slew in all 3 legs of the series! It is almost race time now and our handicapper has another tip to share with us.

The tipster says, “Race 6, (horse) #3, Great Minds, ran well here in the Spring but may not have enjoyed the speed, favoring a turf course in upstate New York in July. Al Stall (trainer) is very good with horses coming off a 61 to 180 day layoff.” Great Minds is a 4 year old gelding, bred in Kentucky at Claiborne Farms. He has had 12 career starts. He raced at Keeneland in Lexington, Ky on April 17th, 2015. His last race was at Saratoga this July. Today at 3:51 PM EST he will race on the turf and once again he is at Keeneland. His jockey is Miguel Mena. Mena is from Lima, Peru. He is a multiple graded stakes winning jockey and won the Breeders’ Cup Las Vegas Marathon Stakes last year. Great Minds’ trainer is Albert Stall, Jr. He has also won multiple graded stakes and has 2 Breeders’ Cup wins. One was the Classic in 2010 with Blame. Great Minds is owned by Vince Wilfork. He has 14 career starts. Four of those are 2015 races.

Enjoy the tip! Thank you for following and sharing.

Update: Great Minds finished fifth. He ran most of the race as last in the group. Then he came around wide and with an increased speed at the races end but it was too little too late.Share This:

September 25, 2015September 28, 2015

Freelance Friday

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TGIF! I have been one busy equestrian fan since the last post. I have never gone a week without blogging, so I am not going to miss my chance now, but it was not for lacking material this week. Since my last post I went to live racing at Churchill Downs, attended Keeneland’s September Yearling Sales again and went to the 1st of Taylor Made Farm’s California Chrome Fan Day!

Churchill Downs had just one night for Downs After Dark this September meet. I went this past Saturday, 9/19/15. I placed some of my best bets ever just going by names that I liked, mostly anything with a cat or kitten in its own name or pedigree. Starship Zeus came in 1st in the 7th race, bringing me the most money. He was sired by Bluegrass Cat. I also found Posture, who ran for Motley Crew Stables in race 2. He made me money with a nice win. I chose him because I love the rock band, Motley Crue. I enjoy night racing, the cooler summer temperatures, the sunset the lighting and the live bands make it a little extra special.

The sale at Keeneland was a good time as usual. This September Yearling sale is rather long. It began on September 14th and I went that day. It concludes tomorrow, 9/26/15. I was just there again on Wednesday, 9/23. The crowds were a lot smaller than the first day but there were still many great Thoroughbreds for sale. 280 horses were sold Wednesday, to be exact. I sat in the sales pavilion, rather stunned, as a buyer for Bridlewood Farm had bought hip #3056 for $300,000, while communicating as a person in the pavilion to a person on the other end of his cell phone. In some strange miscommunication the buyer rejected his offer of 300K which put the horse back into auction right on the spot and thus the same buyer had to pay an additional 30K for the debacle as other bidders wildly sprung into action. I must say that the auctioneer warned him. This $330,000 bay filly by Blame and 1/2 sister to Nyquist was the top seller of the day.

Today, I made it to Taylor Made Farm in Kentucky for California Chrome Fan Day! I met and petted several horses including; Graydar, Old Fashioned, Eskendereya, Astrology, Northern Afleet and California Chrome. Chrome got a little more than a petting, I gave him a quick smooch! Duncan Taylor, president, did most of the talking. I was impressed with the stories he told of hard work, a tight knit family, Christian values and a love of people and horses that he accredited to Taylor Made’s success. I was pleased when he recited the prayer of St. Francis of Assisi. He is the patron saint of animals and it comforted me to know that the farm’s animals here are loved by their owners. I thought that Pope Francis would have liked to have experienced this moment if traveling to the Horse Capital of the World was part of his United States visit. I would have be thrilled to have seen the Pope this week. I am going back to see Chrome again this Sunday and I will give you a full Fan Day story following that. Have a great weekend and enjoy a few Chrome photos!

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